He made no attempt to hide his probing.
The identity of Joker was not unfamiliar in the international black market.
Arms, special channels, gray trades, and even high-risk supply transports along certain national borders.
Joker had a hand in all of it.
But a figure like him rarely showed up in person.
His sudden boarding of Project Zero-Transit naturally caught the ship's attention.
Julian lowered his eyes, his lips still holding that gentle curve.
He slowly pulled off his black leather gloves.
One finger at a time.
His movements were unhurried, radiating an aristocratic grace.
Despite the lack of overt aggression, Marcus Vane inexplicably felt his chest tighten.
Julian looked up at him, his disguised eyes as mild as ever.
But beneath that mildness lay a layer of chilling darkness.
"Business that requires my personal attendance is, of course, more than just a few crates of guns."
Marcus Vane's eyes flashed. "It seems Mr. Joker has already heard the rumors?"
Julian's smile didn't falter.
He didn't reply, merely tossing his discarded gloves onto the nearby metal counter. "Project Zero-Transit has invited nearly twice as many medical specialists this year."
"If it were just standard pharmaceuticals, you wouldn't need to go to such lengths." Marcus Vane chuckled nervously. "That batch of medical Living Assets certainly cannot be compared to standard drugs."
As soon as the words left his mouth, his smile froze.
He had slipped up.
Julian seemed oblivious to his reaction, keeping that gentle smile. "Oh? Living Assets?"
Marcus quickly recovered his composure. "Mr. Joker is as sharp as ever. However, Project Zero-Transit has its own rules."
"Before the auction officially begins, no buyer is allowed access to the complete manifest. The specific lots will only be revealed once the bidding starts."
"When the time comes, Mr. Joker will naturally find out."
Julian didn't press the issue.
He simply gave a light nod, as if unsurprised. "Understood."
Marcus secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
But the depths of Julian's eyes had grown somber.
Medical Living Assets.
Specifically invited medical experts.
Putting those two pieces of information together was enough.
There was indeed a batch of special cargo related to medical experiments on this
ship.
e2
It was highly likely the batch of replicable Semi-Finished Assets that Dr. Geoffrey Grant had mentioned, destined for Whitecliffe Harbor by the Obsidian Sun.
It was a good thing Serena hadn't come.
This place was far filthier than they had anticipated.
Marcus gestured politely once more. a
"Mr.
, a seat has been arranged
of the
for you on the second floor Merchant's Quarter
"There are quite a few buyers boarding tonight, and a few among them have
crossed paths with you in the black market."
Julian smirked. "Is that so? How lively."
Marcus led him out of the verification room.
The High-Stakes Ballroom of the Merchant's Quarter was fully revealed before them.
Crystal chandeliers hung overhead.
Expensive liquors were meticulously displayed.
A band in the corner played a soothing melody.
Waiters in formal attire maneuvered through the crowd, carrying trays of drinks.
If one didn't know where they were, they might easily mistake this for a private gala among the elite.
But with a single glance, Julian saw through the veneer of respectability.
Some had thick calluses on their webbing from firing guns.
Others wore micro-earpieces tucked behind their ears.
A few sported black-market auction house tattoos on their inner wrists.
The bodyguards flanking them
seemed
quiet, but their positioning
was flawless, ready to take a bullet for their employers at a moment's notice.
FindNovel.net
Everyone permitted in here was a player truly qualified to sit at the high-stakes table
of the global underground.